Any tax people having a rough busy season? This is the worst season on my career due to understaffing

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Right there with you. I remember when you used to have an associate, senior, manager, and director/partner on accounts and high quality standards. How many of you aren’t completing required checklists or even having four eyes review on returns?

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4 eyes on returns?? Like the ones on the front of my head and then the back??? Prepping. Reviewing. Amending. One stop shop.

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Not even in tax compliance, but I basically prepped, reviewed, and delivered some projects this year with little to no supervision. SMs and Partners put in less than 5 hours on all my projects

On the plus side, we are having great margins this year lol

likesmart

Right?! My margins are over 60% Bc of a lack f levels of prep and review.

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Uhhhhhh yeah … associates seem to be MIA on the deliverables, almost across the board. Anyone else … ?

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D2 increased pay is not the only solution. When everyone knows this is busy season, why do they say I am completely overwhelmed and booked when they have 35 hours charged time!

On track to hit the highest charge hour month of my career this month. Going to break 300. I feel like a zombie. Thank god I’m exclusively working from home because if I had to look professional right now it would break me.

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I was above 350 charge hours for September. This system is fucked up

I’m a younger partner definitely in the trenches and these past months have been the worst I’ve seen. Staff don’t put in the time yet still think they’re overworked (they aren’t!) and managers and partners (those managers and partners that actually do client work) are left holding the bag. The higher level partners are far enough removed they don’t do anything about it because the work still ultimately gets done and they keep getting their fat checks. I’m fairly vocal about this with firm leadership and it gets their lip service but no real action. Tired.

likefunny

There are more alternative career paths that pay way more with a relaxed lifestyle than there used to be. Pay the lower levels a higher salary and you'll fix their work ethic. Law and investment banking have adapted and figured out ways to pass the additional salary costs to their clients. Time for public accounting to figure it out. The problem is accountants by nature aren't as eager to change.

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I have essentially been acting as intern to director on several engagements. This has been the worst 9.15 of my career, with 9.30 and 10.15 looking to be equally as horrible. Staffing, including on the client side, has been a major factor. Add on increasing compliance complexity, decreased quality of pbc information received, client information coming in late and any other surprises or factors (there are just too many to choose from!) and it's a perfect storm.

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Completely agree. 9/15 was brutal with Q3s due on top. We were09 3 weeks behind for 9.15 which is making 9.30 worse than ever. Haven’t even looked at most of 10/15 yet. This busy season is definitely the worst I’ve ever seen. Not having decent resources has definitely taken a toll on my on me.

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No bc I left compliance 🫡

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Definitely the worst extension season of my career. We had to file a few partnerships late because we didn’t get the K-1s needed until 9/15. Understaffed with increased complexity this year due to the K-3 bs. Still working through trusts that would have normally been done weeks ago. Individuals looking bad also.

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Agree. We’ve lost about 7 staff this year and they haven’t been replaced

likesmart

7 staff? Try a mix of 8 total managers / directors / principals. Those of us left behind are drowning

I’m reviewing, sending notes to seniors, then staff, and since most don’t seem to care, end up clearing everything myself. Gave up on leaving review comments, started doing everything myself. Had to relearn tax software since it’s been a very long while. This busy season is the worst I’ve seen in the past 8 yrs since I started at Deloitte as a staff.

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Ehhh at this point near the end of the deadline, it’s more efficient to clear comments instead of sending it back unless it’s a big mess up

Soooo what are the leaders and future leaders going to do?! 🤔

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Work heart attack hours

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I’m a new senior it’s been as bad as i can remember. New staff don’t want to put in the work, older partners retiring left and right so nobody knows what to do with the client. New laws constantly. It’s been a rough 9 months.

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Honestly a great opportunity for those left and to cherry pick the good clients since we can’t service them all.

Same here

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I am thankful that my team is adequately staffed and motivated. We all understand how good we have it and work hard during office hours to ensure it stays that way.

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We’re actually over staffed but looking for A players to join at the manager level. No OT this week or weekends for our team.

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Adequately staffed at a 30 person firm. Yes we had increased Billings year over year.

My firm has adopted the philosophy of hiring people that they like as candidates, even if they aren’t hiring that position. The thought it they don’t have to seek them out if they already have them, or more people for tax season.

Self-review is the only skill I look for these days.

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There'll be no better busy season compare to PY

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